Authorities search for robbery, false pretense suspects

Law enforcement officials in Oktibbeha County are asking for the public''s help to find two suspects wanted for unrelated crimes.

The Starkville Police Department is searching for a suspect who robbed a convenience store this weekend on Highway 12.

The incident occurred Saturday at about 10:45 p.m. when a man wearing all black, including a black ski mask and gloves, walked into the Sprint Mart at Highway 12 and Jackson Street, displayed a dark-colored pistol and ordered an employee to open the cash register, Starkville Police Department Detective William Durr said. The suspect took an undisclosed amount of money from the register, exited the store and ran north on Jackson Street, Durr said.

"It all happened in less than a minute," Durr said. "He took the money and ran."

Durr described the suspect as approximately 6 feet tall, although his mask made it difficult to determine his race. Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the Starkville Police Department at 662-323-4131.

The Oktibbeha County Sheriff''s Department also is asking for the public''s help to find a woman wanted for 10 counts of false pretense.

Keisha Carothers, 32, of 403 Crowell St., West Point, is accused of writing 10 checks in Oktibbeha County that attempted to draw funds from a checking account of hers which was closed, OCSD Chief Deputy George Carrithers said. Carrithers did not disclose the dates or locations where the bad checks were passed. He also didn''t know the total amount of money involved in the exchanges.

The Sheriff''s Department has been searching for Carothers for "a couple weeks," Carrithers said.

"We have been trying to work with the family to try to get this young lady to turn herself in," Carrithers said. "That''s why we''re going to the public now."

Anyone with information on Carothers'' whereabouts is asked to call the Oktibbeha County Sheriff''s Department at 662-323-2421, Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151, the Clay County Sheriff''s Department at 662-494-7339, or the West Point Police Department at 662-494-1244.